LifecanbetoffI’m finally on the bandwagon. Yes – upcycling!
Upcycling is the basic concept of taking old objects or materials and transforming them into something new. Breathing new life into an item and giving it a new personality and sentiment.
The term was first used in 1994 by Reiner Pilz, who when speaking about European waste disposal systems said: “Recycling, I call it downcycling. They smash bricks, they smash everything. What we need is upcycling where old products are given more value not less.”
However, the process of upcycling has been used a whole lot longer.
With the ever increasing environmental awareness spreading across our nation, the creative reuse of clothing, furniture and even rubbish is growing. And fast!
If, like me, you love to scroll through Instagram, you will have noticed that upcycling is certainly trendy. But, is it always upcycling?
Upcycling vs Recycling
As mentioned above, upcycling is taking an old item and turning it into a better product, giving it a new use. Upcycling may also be the use of several different items put together to make a new item. It is essentially a form of recycling.
Recycling is the process of taking waste, items such as plastic, paper, metal or glass – breaking it down and turning it into a reusable product. For example, paper is recycled into either paper for use in printing or cardboard for use in packaging materials.
It’s a fine line and if someone wants to call it upcycling when it’s actually recycling who am I to judge. They’ve been creative and environmentally friendly so that gets my vote!
What can you upcycle?
Just about anything! It just requires a bit of creative flair.
Something I don’t have in droves, but the hours spent scrolling Pinterest or Instagram has certainly helped me want to join the upcycling revolution.
Where can you find your next project?
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure right?
Freecycle is a great source of unwanted treasures. I’ve picked up a fabulous large copper lamp (replacement lampshade being sought!) which with a Thomas Edison style big bulb has given it a fresh new look – even without a lampshade! The possibilities for upcycling furniture is endless!
Most recently, and my best find yet, a lovely large footstool. With the help of some vintage velvet curtains, I hope to transform it into something beautiful! Hence why I’m scouring charity shops and eBay for a pair!
Then there are the for sale sites on Facebook, Shpock, Gumtree etc all a great source of cheap or free items which are no longer wanted.
Don’t forget the charity shops and thrift stores! It’s amazing what you can pick up in a charity shop or at a carboot sale. And second hand furniture emporiums are also a great source of potential project pieces.
It’s also worth asking at your local tip. Some offer a shop where they sell the things people are throwing out that are worth reselling. I know my mum gets a lot of bargains from her local dump so is definitely worth a gander!
It’s really about letting your imagination do the talking, look at an item and try to imagine it as something else or with a lick of chalk paint – don’t look at it as a bedraggled piece of crap!
A ghastly pair of curtains may well work as being a bolster on the bed, or a tired old window frame can be turned into a beautiful mirror.
Pallets, packing crates and old railway sleepers also make great items for furniture projects.
How I’m getting in on the act!
Alcohol bottles…!
Namely, gin and wine bottles.
And no, I’ve not been guzzling gallons of gin and wine purely to reuse the bottles for a different purpose…!
I’ve raided the recycling bin during my Sunday shift at the pub and managed to source a lovely Bombay Sapphire gin bottle as well as a couple of nice wine bottles I had from my own glass bottle bin.
Gin bottles nowadays are a thing of beauty, there are so many different shapes and sizes that it’s no wonder that the creative bunch of you out there are taking them and turning them into something spectacular.
I’ve seen them made into funky lamps and even soap dispensers. I’ve even seen little Hendricks bottles turned into salt and pepper shakers (I do have one of these bottles so might just try this idea!).
As we’ve established, I’m not particularly creative so my upcycling has been a lot more simple by using fairy lights to create a little twinkle for the gin bottle and for the wine bottles I’ve simple turned them into candle stick holders.
Simple, yet effective!
The next big project!
I’d really like to take on a bigger projects such as turning a chest of drawers into a bathroom sink unit link this one done by Roses & Rolltops – which I think is an absolutely genius reuse of an old chest of drawers.
Or, maybe turn an old coffee table into a window seat and storage unit. I’m also thinking back to that window frame as a mirror as I could definitely see one of these as a focal point above my open fire.
The only end to upcycling is your own creative inspiration!
There are also smaller, more challenging projects I would like to explore.
As I sit watching the Great British Sewing Bee’s ‘reduce, reuse, recycle‘ week I think I’d quite like to attempt upcycling some clothing! Though sewing most definitely isn’t my forte!
Are you part of the upcycle revolution? What has been your biggest project?
Peace out!
Jangles x
I loved reading this and I love your fairy-lit gin bottle 🙂 We recently upcycled some old 45 records… just shoved them in the oven placed (their centre) over a smaller bowl and they come out as… bowls with wavey edges – which can then be used as bowls or lamshades!
Your blog post has certainly inspired me to get creative. Thanks! 🙂
Ooh wow that’s cool! I’ve seen clocks made from old records too. They are very funky! Love this idea!
I love upcycling and currently have a vintage ottoman and a writing desk I’m working on. Once the weather gets brighter and stops raining so much, lol, I’m hoping to get outside to finish sanding them. I saw your bottle lamp on Instagram and really love the idea, I’m hoping to do something like that with a Kraken bottle.
Ooh look forward to seeing the desk. I’d quite like to do a bureau but don’t have the space.
Great post and really believe in upcycling. I was at an antique fair today and seen a great stand from upcycling and making lamps out of anything they could reuse. We shoukd all upcycle or recycle old or unused items.